Contributed by: KirbyPuckettKirbyPuckett(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on December 19th 2003"Fuck your fashion show, fake poetic prose, and everything in between. I'm sick of all the hype. No matter how hard I try. I just can't seem to understand the changing of your life." - Kid Dynamite
Is Punknews.org sick? No one has reviewed Kid Dynamite's latest contribution to the Punk Rock scene.

"Fuck your fashion show, fake poetic prose, and everything in between. I'm sick of all the hype. No matter how hard I try. I just can't seem to understand the changing of your life." - Kid Dynamite

Is Punknews.org sick? No one has reviewed Kid Dynamite's latest contribution to the Punk Rock scene, "Cheap Shots, Youth Anthems."

I'm not going to dive into a huge bio about the band, you know who they were, you know how influential they were/are/will be, and you know what their members are doing currently.

This compilation of the bands material is a packed disc with twenty-nine songs from compilations, covers, original demo, outtakes, and a live show. Not to mention extensive liner notes and a DVD* that helps finish the touches on this must have collection for any Kid Dynamite fan.

First up is the "Classics," four songs that were tracks only available on various compilations. "Heart A Tact" was the first KD song I ever heard and will always hold a place in my ears. Along with that song "Breakin' A Memory" and "Give ‚??m the Ripped One" all follow the lines of a standard Kid Dynamite song ‚?? Short, Fast, & LOUD! Dan Yemin describes "Two for Flinching as "Our crowning achievement: verse, chorus, and bridge, all in less than 10 seconds."

Following the compilation tracks are a handful of cover songs from some of the best in the business. They even mention that it took a lot of courage to even attempt these covers. There's two ways to do a cover song, you can either try to sound like the band you're trying to cover or you can apply your band's distinct sound to the original ‚?? KD take the former. For the longest time I thought "Rise Above" was a Kid Dynamite song and only recently lead to my discovery of Black Flag. This is hands down my favorite cover song ever and I would hate to diminish the guys in Black Flag but Kid Dynamite perfects the song. "Deny Everything, "I Don't Wanna Hear It," and "Mach Insecurities" done by the Circle Jerks, Minor Threat, and the Dead Kennedy's respectively are all performed top notch. The most surprising cover would be "Hateful" originally by the Clash. Sticking with the same formula for a cover song the band pumps out the best remake of any Clash song I've heard.

The original demo known as "Six Songs with Jay Singing" and the "Demo Outtakes" are the next sections of the record. They're a nice little treat for the fans as you can see how some of your favorite songs like "Never Met the Gooch," "Bookworm," and S.O.S." have progressed from their earliest moments. Some of the tracks hardly even seem like demos once you're used to the band's raw and powerful Punk Rock sound.

Closing out this wonderful supplement to 2003's amazing year in music is seven songs performed live on a radio show. The announcer tends to get a little annoying and the breaks after every song ruin the flow of the set. However, if you're like me and you never got a chance to see this band live this is about as close as you'll get so suck it up for all it's worth. I strongly recommend this for everyone (even if you have all of the b-side songs) as the demos, liner notes, and artwork are worth the price alone.

None More Black & Paint it Black are two phenomenal bands but don't nearly come up to par with the renowned Kid Dynamite and this closing album in their career sheds the final light on just how incredible they were.

This cd does not deserve that many stars. I love Kid Dynamite as much as the next kid...but who wants to hear all of these demos?? The production is soooo much better on the original cds. This cd is only worth it if you don't already have Heart-A-Tact, Breakin's a Memory & the covers.

Anonymous (January 24, 2005)

The full-length DVD needs to come out NOW. This CD is great, a hardcore punk legacy that's still underrated.

1. This cd is really really cool. Top 20 for this year, definitely. I especially liked the radio songs since they are on the Philly commercial station WYSP. When I was growing up in the 80s, WYSP and WMMR were the 2 main Rock stations, 'YSP was a little harder, more likely to play Judas Priest than Foreigner. Still, punk in any form was verboten on both stations back then, although The Hooters had a raw new-wavey version of that "All You Zombies" tune in heavy rotation at WMMR. So fast forward 20 years, and it's funny (in a good way) to hear one of the stations that made jocks pound "fags" (punks, goths, hippies) in the 80s broadcasting one of Philly's best musical exports since Ruin.

2. On tour, we were lucky enough to play with Paint It Black and From Ashes Rise in Massachusets. It ROCKED! PIB were engaging and catchy and hard and loud and smart. The Criminals were lucky enough to play one of Kid Dynamite's first shows in Philly years ago, and I remember being equally impressed with them. Really, KD and PIB are really special bands in today's often-cookie cutter-sounding underground music scene.

3. Black Flag rules. Even some of "Black Flag: The Metal Years"- "Annihilate This Week" is great to blast after a frustrating work day. Personally, I'd rather hear bands put their own stamp on a cover instead of just mimicking the original. The Vindictives re-arranged the Sex Pistols "No Feelings" on some single, talk about brass balls!

Anonymous (December 23, 2003)

kid dynamite wasa sick band but do not buy this cd. it will only make you mad. its not quite as bad as when i bought zero zero expecting to hear anything but whatever style of music thats supposed to be. this cd sucks and so does none more black.
-rcboston

"And how many old bands have you heard? I don't overlook new punk, I just know it sucks compared to old punk (unique music). And I don't like old punk because it's old. I like it because it's often more well composed and arranged than these cop-out bands of today could even imagine being. Way to make an idiotic assumption, dumbass.

But why am I mad? Because you're a Republican poser? Probably.

-BSD"

i dont live in the US so no, im not a republican.

no i havent listened to that many old bands, only about 10, with classic bands like dead kennedy's and black flag in there. and i still dont see anything special about them.

so you dont skip over todays bands, good for you. i was wrong.

well so all this to say i dont know what. i prefer punk from 1990 until about 96 the most, with some exceptions.

i guess i got owned.

Anonymous (December 22, 2003)

Haha so now it's latter-day Black Flag? My personal favorite Flag song ever us "Police Story", Keith Morris version from "Everything Went Black".

-BSD

Anonymous (December 22, 2003)

God I am an idiot. When I was talking about my favorite RECORDED song ever, I meant "My War".

BSD is funny. And you kids talkin shit old bands are fucking dumb. All music is music, and it should be seen as such regardless of age. Its all on the same level for me, so I love Thrice, Coheed and Cambria, and Cursive, but also adore G.B.H, T.S.O.L, and the buzzcocks. There is a fucking middle ground, and its called listening to music with no bias.

Age aint nothin but a number.

Anonymous (December 22, 2003)

Kid Dynamite is one of my favourite bands ever. Great disc. Their self titled is a tad better, though, but still.

Anonymous (December 22, 2003)

"None More black sounds nothing like Kid dynamite"-says the kid who has never listened to None More Black

"None More Black is poppier, than Kid Dynamite"-says the kid who has never listened to None More black

None More Black is great, anything that has Jay S singing in it can't help but sound like Kd, this is a good thing. None More Black gets my vote for best debut this year. Fucking rad disc

Barkley

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

And what are these old bands that sound the same, that make modern bands look ten times as unique? Black Flag is punk rock 101, and though I don't care for anything after "Damaged" (not counting "Everything Went Black"), their early crap is required listening if you want to sound at all informed in a musical debate of punk rock... It's "punk" to be stupid, not flat out ignorant. What's worse is that the information is so easy to access on the internet.

-BSD

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

"well BSD, im sure you skip over a bunch of more recent bands and their releases cause you figured that they all sound the same anyway. so if somebody wants to skip over old bands, who cares? more often then not i find, they sucked anyway.

just cause its old, doesnt make it good. it just adds street cred. which may i point out, is like cool points. ie: worthless."

And how many old bands have you heard? I don't overlook new punk, I just know it sucks compared to old punk (unique music). And I don't like old punk because it's old. I like it because it's often more well composed and arranged than these cop-out bands of today could even imagine being. Way to make an idiotic assumption, dumbass.

"Well, some people just don't listen to old school bands, or will skip over listening to one or two old school bands just cuz they think that band will sound like every other old one"

"Oh, so they're fucking stupid. That explains it.

-BSD"

well BSD, im sure you skip over a bunch of more recent bands and their releases cause you figured that they all sound the same anyway. so if somebody wants to skip over old bands, who cares? more often then not i find, they sucked anyway.

just cause its old, doesnt make it good. it just adds street cred. which may i point out, is like cool points. ie: worthless.

kd was good and they are quite influential and all but this cd probably isnt worth the money. just buy the self titled. or shorter, faster, louder.

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

Nobody cares about your opinion if you are anonymous.

...evildeadalive

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

kid dynamite was an awesome band. ive been a fan for while as i was a big fan of lifetime. kd was a great live band and when they came into the scene they kind of sparked something in what was a dying scene in my opinion. but they did not start anything from a creative standpoint, and i think that they as a band would be the first to tell you that. kid dynamite was nothing special, as much as i loved them, they are just reinventing old scholl music. minor threat was playing this style of music 25 years ago. im not trying to take anything away from them as a band, i heve their flyers up on my wall and they are one of my favorite bands that have come out in a while, but i think a part of why they sound so good is because of how bad eveyone else sounds. punk rock has a pretty pathetic scene right now. it seems it doesnt want to move forward so when a band comes around and gets it right they sound that much better. both jason and dan are very talented musicians, unforunately jay elected to start an even less creative pop punk band. as if we dont have enough of them, and dan has elected to just do the same old thing he has been doing his whole life, standing in place. i was hoping that if and when kd broke up they would go on to form other bands and put their talents to use and maybe try to take a step forward instead of backwards. but instead we got stuck with none more black and paint it black, just watered down boring "punk rock". the kind that has been done a thousand times before.
as for the cheap shots cd, it is a huge waste of money, there is only one track that you wont recognize and you probly would be better off not hearing it. i love kid dynamite but i think they should quit now while they are ahead. they dont need to put out a dvd. they were only around for 3 yrs. there is not much of a story to tell. also, the worst live band i have ever seen is none more black.

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

good review, my favorite band ever, they restored my faith in punk rock, and really helped the scene. jason is definately my favorite vocalist by far, you must have their albums! if you like them check out paint it black too, i would definately not reccomend lifetime or none more black...they are both really poppy and dont really resemble KD.

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

Oh, so they're fucking stupid. That explains it.

-BSD

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

Well, some people just don't listen to old school bands, or will skip over listening to one or two old school bands just cuz they think that band will sound like every other old one

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

what kind of punk are you for not knowing who black flag is. what the fuck!!!

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

This cd does not do justice to any of the other KD albums. they ruin a few songs, and there is a bunch of typos in the liner notes.... WAY TO GO JADE TREE!!

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

But I hold tight to what is true. NOT YOU!

Anonymous (December 21, 2003)

"For the longest time I thought “Rise Above” was a Kid Dynamite song and only recently lead to my discovery of Black Flag. "

None More Black cleaned up Kid Dynamite's sloppy side. Their songs pure, fast, and aggressive and everything that makes a good punk song.
NMB > KD

Anonymous (December 20, 2003)

"The original, in my opinion, is the greatest RECORDED song, ever."

Oh come off it... It's a great song, but definitely not warranting that status. I'm not putting it down because it's one of the easiest songs ever to play on guitar, but because the arrangement is simply not as good as other rock songs, and Henry's voice sucks.

-BSD

Anonymous (December 20, 2003)

You just can't go wrong with KD. Although as a big Black Flag fan, it's a dissapointment to see people not knowing their songs (it's called maybe reading linear notes and songwriting credits). Still, KD rules. So did Lifetime, and so do PIB. NMB are just OK.

i bought their s/t recently...and i have to say it is good. but no where near as good as you dudes pretend it is. PLease stop over hyping this band, I would have maybe enjoyed the disc if i hadnt expected jesus toi jump out of it and serenade m with the coolest song ever.

wrist rocket is a great song though.

Anonymous (December 20, 2003)

Where's all the love for lifetime? With people throwing around Jason as the best vocalist of all time, what about Ari Katz? So much better. Not to discredit KD, I love them, but nothing post-Lifetime really seemed to hit me as hard as the band itself.

I love Kid Dynamite. This cd is great but the 'DVD' part is too short. I thought I read somewhere that they are piecing together a real DVD of KD, so this footage was just supposed to be a teaser, but I could be wrong.